My Roadbed is down and the track is in place
Do I put the ballast down now or wait untill I have some green grass etc.on the layout
Also for HO code 83 track which ballast size Fine or Medium
You can go either way. Different folks have differnent preferences. My preference is to not ballast for a while. I like to test the heck out of the track running trains before I ballast so that I can more easily correct any problem areas. I like to weather my track, do the surrounding scenery ground cover and then ballast. I end with adding trees and other taller scenery elements. As for ballast size, my preference is medium.
I like to test the track. Then, put down some basic scenery - tan paint & blended fine turf.
Run the trains some more. Then, I weather the track, and apply the coarser textures, and ballast at the same time. I like medium ballast, as fine (while it may be more realistic in size) doesn’t have enough texture to my eye.
Nick
[#ditto] Yep, run them trains! To be “politically correct” ballast should be the last thing to go down because the real full size railroads do it. Also it’s easier to lay ballast on the scenery then it is to lay the ballast first then make the scenery look like the ballast was layed on it. However, some people put cream and suger in their cup, then add the coffee, while others put the coffee in their cup then add the cream and sugar, I drink mine black. Ken
Ballasting is generally the last layer of scenery to go on. Where the ballast overlaps the adjoining ground cover, the ballast will be on top of the ground cover which will look more realistic. There’s also the possibility that after laying down your scenery, you might want to reposition your track. That is easy to do if you haven’t ballasted it.
I was told ballasting is the last step so thats what I do.